Georgia Tech Now Offers Undergraduate Course on Trap Music

Hip-hop is once again entering the hallowed halls of higher learning. Georgia Tech in Atlanta is now offering an undergraduate course called “Exploring the Lyrics of OutKast and Trap Music to Explore Politics of Social Justice.”

According to HipHopDX, the curriculum is built around the development of trap music which was started by DJ Toomp and popularized by hitmaking producers like Metro Boomin, Mike WiLL Made-It, Shawty Red and Zaytoven. In addition, students will learn how OutKast, Goodie Mob, T.I., Goodie Mob, Gucci Mane, Future, Migos and 21 Savage have made a social and political impact on the culture through trap. Other prominent rappers like 2Pac, The Notorious B.I.G., Kanye West, Nas and Nicki Minaj will also be included in the discussion.

The course is being taught by professor is Dr. Joycelyn Wilson, which she says uses new metaphors for exploring contemporary rap music. "One of my metaphors is ‘The Outkast Imagination’ and the other metaphor is ‘trap,’" she said. "Both allow us to broaden and deepen our understandings of the music within a larger tradition of cultural expression."

“The class is popular because hip-hop culture is popular, but also because we are in Atlanta and offering the course at an institute of technology committed to intersecting the humanities with technology," she added.

At Washington University in St. Louis, they are offering a course dedicated to Yeezy called “Politics of Kanye West: Black Genius and Sonic Aesthetics.". The class, which is being taught by Dr. Jeffrey McCune, will make the connection to Kanye West and the issues of race, sexuality and politics as it pertains to his music.